Rupert Prince Palatine Part 24

"The b.l.o.o.d.y and inhumane murder of my late dread uncle of ever renowned memory hath administered to me fresh occasion to be a.s.sistant, both in Counsel and to the best of my personal power, to my dear cousin, now Charles II of England... I do protest and really speak it, it was ever my intention to do him service and employ my best endeavours for enthroning him, as bound by consanguinity, but more particularly engaged by reason of former favours received from his late royal father, my murdered uncle. Yet I do ingeniously confess it was never my desire to be employed in this great and weighty matter of His Majesty's Admiral. I should willingly have been satisfied with an inferior place, where I might have had the freedom, in part, to bring to condign punishment such great traitors and rebels who had a hand in the murder of my late uncle, and do still persist in their perverse way of rebellion and cruelty. And my reasons why I did not wish so great a command were these--namely, I know, and was ascertained, myself had been rendered odious to many English who did not rightly understand my real intentions, but only believed lies and forged reports of my enemies' framing. And I did likewise consider that my undertaking the admiralty might be a means to draw away the affections of His Majesty's subjects, by reason such rumours had been upon me. These, and many other reasons which now I will omit, did move me several times to refuse what, at length, His Majesty's Council of Lords, knights and gentlemen, who are now about him, did, in a manner, thrust upon me."[47] Rupert's greatness had been, in truth, thrust upon him, but having accepted it, he resolved to use it {238} for avenging his uncle to the uttermost. "Prince Rupert," declared a sailor of the Parliament, who had been his prisoner, "is not ashamed openly to profess that, provided he may ruin and destroy the English interest, especially the estates of the merchants and mariners of London, he cares not whether he gets a farthing more while he lives than what will maintain himself, his confederates, and his fleet."[48]

Such being Rupert's att.i.tude, it is worth while to note that of his brothers. Maurice was of course one with him. Edward also expressed himself as strongly as his two seniors could have wished. "I should die happy if I could steep my hands (quand j'aurai trempe mes mains) in the blood of those murderers."[49] That satisfaction was denied him, but he did his best by insulting the Amba.s.sadors of the Parliament in the streets of the Hague. This affair produced great excitement in England, and the States of Holland were forced to request Edward to "keep a better tongue," or else to quit their territory. He had been just about to depart to Heidelberg, but, with true Palatine obstinacy, deferred his departure for another week, and went about boasting his status as a "freeborn Prince of the Empire."[50] The States, with their wonted prudence, let him alone until after he was safely departed, when they endeavoured to appease the English Parliament by a show of indignation. "The States here," wrote Nicholas, "have lately caused a summons publicly to be made, by ringing of a bell, requiring Prince Edward--who they know went hence to Germany three months since--to appear in the State House, by a day prefixed, to answer the affront he did to St. John and his colleagues; which is said to be only, as they pa.s.sed him, to have called them a pack of rogues and rebels."[51]

{239}

The conduct of Charles Louis contrasted strongly with that of the rest of his family. He, far more than Edward, had cause for grat.i.tude to his Uncle, and yet he could write coldly of the King's trial:--"Others, (_i.e._ himself), who are but remotely concerned in the effects thereof, cannot be blamed if they do not intermeddle. Neither is it in their power to mend anything, for it hath been seen in all Governments that strength will still prevail, whether it be right or wrong."[52]

Nevertheless he quitted England after the King's execution, chiefly, it is to be feared, because he had become convinced that he himself would not be elected to the vacant throne. Having renounced the cause of the Parliament, he was anxious to be reconciled to his brothers, and Sophie, evidently at his instigation, wrote to inform Rupert and Maurice of the Elector's changed views. Both her letters are dated April 13th, 1649, and that to Rupert is written in French.

"Dearest Brother,

"It is only through printed reports that we hear any news of Rupert le Diable, for no one has received any letters from you. My brother the Elector is now here, and cares no more for those cursed people in England, for he has paid his duty to the King, which he might easily have avoided, as business called him to Cleves. Here also are the Scottish Commissioners, who every day bring some new proposal to the King, full of impertinency. They would not that the King should keep any honest man about him, for which they are in great favour with the Princess of Orange, who declares herself much for the Presbyterians, and says that Percy is the honestest man the King has about him. But I believe you care not much to know of intrigues here, for which cause I shall not trouble you further; besides, you have other business to do {240} than read my letters. Only I entreat you to take notice, that I remain

"Your most aff. sister and servant, "Sophie."[53]

To Maurice, Sophie wrote in German, and in a more familiar style.

Probably she was better acquainted with him than with Rupert, for he had encouraged and laughed at her childish tricks, during the years that he spent "in idleness" at the Hague.

"Highborn Prince and Dear Brother,

"I must write to you by all occasions, for I always have something to tell you. This time it shall be that the Prince Elector is here, and that he is now altogether against the Knaves, as we are. The peace is made in France. My brother Edward says he has taken no employment yet.

Prince Ratzevil is deadly sick, they say that the Marquis Gonzaga hath poisoned him; he is in Poland yet. The States have forbidden all their Ministers to pray for any Kings in the Church, but the French will not desist. I am so vexed with you for not writing to me that I do not know how to express it. I hope you have not forgotten me, seeing that I am

"Your faithful sister and humble servant, "Sophie."[54]

To this letter the Elector added a short postscript.

"My service to you, brother Rupert and brother Maurice; more I cannot say, being newly arrived, and visitations do hinder me. Carl Ludwig."

What effect this judiciously-worded composition might have had it is impossible to say. Both letters fell into the hands of the Parliament and never reached their proper destination. It was many years before Rupert and the Elector met again.

[1] Benett MSS. Warburton, III. p. 250.

[2] Nicholas Papers, I. 95. Camden Soc. New Series. Hatton to Nicholas, Aug. 9, 1648.

[3] Warburton, III. pp. 250-254.

[4] Ibid. p. 253.

[5] Clarendon, Bk. XI. p. 63.

[6] Clarendon, Bk. XI. p. 127.

[7] Nicholas Papers, I. p. 96.

[8] Clarendon, Bk. XI, pp. 128-130; Carte Letters, I. p. 192.

[9] Warburton, III. p. 257.

[10] Ibid. p. 386.

[11] Ibid. 255.

[12] Transcripts. Charles II to Rupert, 20 Jan. 1649.

[13] Clar. St. Papers. Hyde to Fanshaw, 21 Jan. 1649.

[14] Warburton, III. p. 295.

[15] Rupert Transcripts. Hyde to Rupert, Dec. 11, 1648. Hermes to Rupert, Jan. 12, 1649.

[16] Ibid. Ball to Rupert, 15 Dec. 1648.

[17] Rupert Transcripts. Price to Rupert, 15 Jan. 1651.

[18] Warburton, III. pp. 262-264.

[19] Clarendon, Bk. XI. p. 152.

[20] Rupert Transcripts. Hyde to Rupert, Jan. 1649.

[21] Warburton. III. p. 308. Charles II to Rupert, Jan. 27, 1650.

[22] Hamilton Papers, p. 219. Camd. Soc. June 24, 1648.

[23] Ibid. p. 245.

[24] Hamilton Papers, p. 246, Camden Soc. Lauderdale to Lanerick, Aug.

1648.

[25] Ibid. p. 249, Aug. 20, 1648.

[26] Warburton, III. pp. 254, 262, 267-270.

[27] Hist. MSS. Com. Rpt. II. Montrose MSS. p. 173.

[28] Warburton, III. p. 269.

[29] Ibid. p. 272.

[30] Warburton, III. p. 273.